I don't know about you, but I stayed up later than I meant to last night watching the results of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary. Election years are always exciting, but are, I think, even more exciting if they mark the first year you are able to vote.

If you are eighteen-years-old on or before March 1st, 2016, you are eligible to vote in the presidential primary held--you guessed it--March 1st! In Massachusetts, you must be registered to vote in advance of election day, and you must vote within the party for which you've registered (e.g., if you register as a Democrat, you may only vote for candidates on the Democratic ballot). Today is the LAST day to register to vote before the primary, so if you plan to vote (and you should) make sure you register!

Additionally, Secretary of State William Galvin in concerned some Massachusetts residents may have registered for the wrong political party, which could preclude them from voting in March's primary. In Massachusetts, Independent (unaffiliated) voters are given the designation "unenrolled." Unenrolled voters, unlike Democrats, Republicans, or other designated party-affiliated voters, may vote in whichever primary they choose. Conversely, in Massachusetts, voters designated as "independent," have registered for the local United Independent Party, which does not have a candidate in the race for president. Therefore, any voter who meant to register with the designation"unenrolled" but accidentally registered as "independent" would NOT be able to vote in the primary.